 “Improving Health and Social Services for Individuals and Communities through Research.”
Mission The Institute for Health and Social Policy in the College of Arts and
Sciences at The University of Akron is dedicated to the research of
health and social services. Highly qualified and experienced research
faculty from a variety of backgrounds including, nursing, political
science, public administration, and sociology, are members of IHSP’s
research staff. IHSP values its multidisciplinary approach to research.
History In 1993 Dr. Richard C. Stephens joined the Department of Sociology at the University of Akron. Within a year, Stephens was receiving grants to conduct both epidemiological and drug abuse treatment evaluation research. As the number of projects continued to grow, the Center for Health and Social Policy was created in 1998. It soon became apparent that the projects and staff needed to be housed in one place on campus. In 1999, the name was changed to the Institute for Health & Social Policy and relocated to the fifth floor of the Polsky Building, where it resides today. Today The Institute hosts an annual “IHSP Research Day” which focuses on projects currently being conducted by the Institute’s staff. In addition, through The University of Akron Foundation, the Barbara J. Stephens Memorial Fund provides monetary awards to those Colleges and Departments who work with the Institute on research projects. These awards, known as the Barbara J. Stephens Dissertation Awards are given to deserving doctoral students from those Colleges and Departments. These awards were first given out in 2005.
Research Continuum
- Epidemiology
- Intervention development
- Service delivery
- Technology transfer
- Policy and program evaluation
- Program needs assessment
- Survey research support
- Geographic Information Systems support
Most of the work conducted by the Institute is on behalf of government or non-profit agencies. Faculty and students have the opportunity to collaborate on research and evaluation projects of national significance.
The Institute also serves as an educational resource for students and the community, offering the most up-to-date social and health services research available and latest advances in behavioral and social sciences technologies.
Administrative Staff:
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Interim Director |
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Associate Director |
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IHSP Administrator |
| Kristina Artino |
Administrative Assistant |
Centers housed at IHSP:
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Director, Center for Policy Studies |
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Director, Center for Public Service
Research & Training |
Principal Investigators
Personnel
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